Recording device having detection means for detecting additional information in reception data and for recording the additional information in a positionally fixed area in a recording track

ABSTRACT

A recording device ( 1 ) includes a receiver ( 2 ) for receiving digital reception data (E) which contain picture, sound and additional information, a processor ( 3 ) for processing received reception data (E) and for supplying digital recording data (AD), a part of the recording data (AD) being formed by information data (ID) which contain additional information, and a recording unit ( 4 ) which includes at least two magnetic heads (A, B), mounted on a rotatably-supported head disc ( 14 ), for the recording of recording data (AD) in helical recording tracks (S) on a magnetic tape ( 12 ). The recording device now further includes a detection unit ( 31 ) for detecting additional information contained in reception data (E) and for supplying received detected additional information, and an additional information processor ( 33 ) for processing received detected additional information (ZT, ZU) and for supplying information data (ID), the recording unit ( 4 ) being adapted to record the information data (ID) supplied by the additional information processor ( 33 ) in an information data recording area (SC) which is always the same as regards its position in a helical recording track (S).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a recording device having receiving means forreceiving digital reception data which contain picture, sound andadditional information, and having processing means for processingreceived reception data and for supplying digital recording data, a partof the digital recording data being formed by information data whichcontain additional information, and having recording means whichincludes at least two magnetic heads, mounted on a rotatably-supportedhead disc, for the recording of recording data in helical recordingtracks on a magnetic tape, information data being recordable in at leasttwo recording areas which differ as regards their positions in a helicalrecording track.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such a recording device of the type defined in the opening paragraph isknown from International Patent Application No. PCT/IB 98/00130,published as WO 98/34225 and corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,556,and takes the form of a video recorder. The known video recorder hasreceiving means formed by an input connector for receiving an MPEGtransport stream which includes digital reception data(Moving PictureExperts Group, ISO/IEC DIS 13818.1). An MPEG transport stream cancontain parallel picture and sound information of, for example, sixtelevision programs in so-called MPEG transport stream packets.Moreover, an MPEG transport stream can contain additional informationrelating to these six television programs in further MPEG transportstream packets in accordance with the DVB standard (Digital VideoBroadcasting, ETS 300468 of February, 1998). In accordance with the DVBstandard, additional information is transmitted, for example, in aso-called Selection Information Table contained in MPEG transport streampackets. Additional information can be, for example, information that atelevision program can be displayed in the 16:9 display format or thatsound information of a television program supports Surround Sound.However, additional information can also relate to a title or thecontent of a television program.

The known video recorder further comprises processing means forreceiving an MPEG transport stream and for processing the MPEG transportstream into recording data which can be recorded on a magnetic tape inaccordance with the DVHS standard (Victor Company of Japan, No. 07015 ofJul. 25, 1997). MPEG transport stream packets which contain a SelectionInformation Table then form part of the recording data.

The known video recorder has recording means which enables recordingdata, including picture, sound and additional information, to berecorded in helical recording tracks on a magnetic tape of amagnetic-tape cassette. For this purpose, the recording means comprisesa scanner having a head disc on which two magnetic heads, a magnetichead A and a magnetic head B, are mounted so as to be rotationallydrivable. Head gaps of the magnetic heads A and B have different azimuthangles in order to reduce crosstalk from recording data recorded inadjacent tracks during the reproduction of the recording data. Due tothe different azimuth angles, recording data recorded in a helicalrecording track by the magnetic head A can be reproduced only by themagnetic head A.

The recording means of the known video recorder is adapted to recordrecording data in helical recording tracks on a magnetic tape, a part ofthe recording data being formed by information data containing inadditional information formed by MPEG transport stream packets. MPEGtransport stream packets contain additional information received by thereceiving means being inserted directly as information data in recordingdata to be recorded, as a result of which, information data are recordedin a plurality of recording areas which differ as regards theirpositions in a helical recording track. The position of a recording areacontaining information data therefore depends, basically, on the instantat which an MPEG transport stream packet containing additionalinformation appears in the receiving data.

In order to reproduce recorded recording data, the known video recordercomprises reproducing means which includes the two magnetic heads A andB. The reproducing means reproduces recorded recording data with anormal reproducing speed, the transport speed of the magnetic tapeduring reproduction being the same as during the recording of recordingdata, and a helical reproducing track which is scanned by a magnetichead A or B covering only one helical recording track. The reproducingmeans also reproduces recording data at a multiple reproducing speedwhich is not more than 24 times as high (N=24), the transport of themagnetic tape being effected at a multiple not greater than 24 times thespeed used for the recording of recording data, and a helicalreproducing track scanned by a magnetic head A or B partly covering amaximum of 24 helical recording tracks at a time. In the case of a24-fold reproducing speed, the magnetic head A or B scans 24 recordingareas of 24 helical recording tracks then traversed. Due to the azimuthangle of the magnetic head A or B by which scanning is effected,recording data, which have been recorded for reproduction at the 24-foldreproducing speed, can be reproduced from 12 associated recording areaswhich differ as regards their positions in a helical recording track,so-called trick-play recording areas.

With the know video recorder, it has been found that information datarecorded in recording areas which differ as regards their positions inhelical recording tracks can be reproduced during reproduction ofrecording data at the normal reproducing speed. However, it has alsobeen found that such information data are hardly ever reproducibleduring reproduction at a multiple reproducing speed. This is because ahelical reproducing track traversed by a magnetic head A or B at amultiple reproducing speed nearly always scans other recording areasthan the recording areas in which the information data are stored andwhose positions in a helical recording track depend essentially on theinstant at which an MPEG transport stream packet containing additionalinformation appears in the receiving data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to solve the aforementioned problemsand to provide an improved recording device of the type defined in theopening paragraph. In a recording device of the type defined in theopening paragraph, this object is achieved in that detection means isprovided for detecting additional information contained in receptiondata and for supplying received detected additional information, and inthat additional information processing means is provided for processingreceived detected additional information and for supplying informationdata, and in that the recording means is adapted to record theinformation data supplied by the additional information processing meansin an information data recording area which is always the same asregards its position in a helical recording track. This yields theadvantage that information data, contained in receiving data andrecorded in the information data recording areas, can be reproduced by areproducing device both during a reproduction mode, in which thetransport of the magnetic tape is effected with the normal reproducingspeed, and during a reproduction mode, in which the transport of themagnetic tape is effected at a multiple reproducing speed. As a resultof this, additional information, for example, the title or content of atelevision program, can also be reproduced together with picture andsound information at a multiple, for example, the 24-fold, reproducingspeed. However, it is particularly advantageous that information datarecorded in the information data recording areas can also be reproducedat particularly high reproducing speeds, such as, for example, the96-fold reproducing speed.

It is to be noted that when, with the known video recorder, informationdata are recorded in trick play recording areas for reproduction at, forexample, a 24-fold reproducing speed, as explained hereinbefore, thesecan be reproduced only at the 24-fold reproducing speed. Therefore, theinformation data must be recorded additionally for any multiplereproducing speed desired during subsequent reproduction, which is asubstantial drawback. Furthermore, information data can be reproduced ata 24-fold reproducing speed at the most, which is also a substantialdrawback.

In a recording device as defined above, it has proven to be advantageousthat selection means is provided for selecting received detectedadditional information and for supplying selected additional informationto the additional information processing means. This has the advantagethat only additional information selected in accordance with givencriteria is recorded as information data in information data recordingareas. Such criteria can be stored, for example, in the selection meansduring the manufacture of the recording device.

In a recording device as defined above, it has proven to be advantageousthat the selection means is adapted to select received detectedadditional information in dependence upon selection information appliedto the selection means, and to supply selected additional information tothe additional information processing means. This has the advantage thatthe selection means can use selection criteria which are defined by auser or which are dependent on the mode of operation of the recordingdevice.

In a recording device as defined above, it has proven to be advantageousthat the recording means is adapted to record the information datasupplied by the additional information processing means in theinformation data recording area of each helical recording track. Thishas the advantage that information data can be reproduced continuouslyduring a reproducing process and additional information contained in theinformation data can be detected very rapidly.

In a recording device as defined above, it has proven to be advantageousthat the detection means is adapted to detect additional informationcontained in a Selection Information Table in reception data inaccordance with the DVB standard. This has the advantage that additionalinformation can be determined from receiving data in a particularlyreliable manner.

In a recording device as defined above, it has proven to be advantageousthat the at least two magnetic heads have Z different azimuth angles,and that reproducing means is provided for reproducing information datarecorded in information data recording areas at a maximum N-foldreproducing speed, each of the at least two magnetic heads being capableof scanning a helical reproducing track which traverses N helicalrecording tracks. This has the advantage that information data recordedin information data recording areas by the recording device can bereproduced by the reproducing means of the recording device at an N-foldreproducing speed at the most.

In such a recording device, it has proven to be advantageous thatpartitioning means is provided for partitioning additional data whichcontain additional information into K=(N*Z)−1 partitions of informationdata which can each be recorded in an information data recording area,and that the recording means is adapted to at least K times record the Kpartitions of information data, which can each be recorded in aninformation data recording area of a helical recording track, in totalin at least K*K information data recording areas of at least K*K helicalrecording tracks. This has the advantage that all the information dataforming additional data can be reproduced at a plurality of reproducingspeeds up to the N-fold reproducing speed at the most, but that at lowreproducing speeds, it is not necessary to reproduce information datafrom all the K*K helical recording tracks in order to reproduce all theadditional data. For example, at the normal reproducing speed, only Kinformation data from K helical recording tracks must be reproduced inorder to reproduce all the information data forming additional data.

In such a recording device, it has proven to be advantageous that thepartitioning means is adapted to define the value N of the maximumN-fold reproducing speed as the least common multiple of all the valuesX of X-fold reproducing speeds envisaged for reproduction. A user of therecording and reproducing device can then specify that information datacontaining additional information of a television program to berecorded, should be reproducible at a 2-fold, a 4-fold and a 12-foldreproducing speed in a reproducing process after the recording. Theleast common multiple of the values (x=2, X=4, X=12) is the value “12”,for which reason the partitioning means are adapted to set the valueN=12. This has the advantage that optimum values N and K can bedetermined, which enable recorded information data to be reproduced veryrapidly at least at all the preset and, if applicable, also any furtherX-fold reproducing speeds. In the example given above, information datacan also be reproduced at a 3-fold and a 6-fold reproducing speed.

In such a recording device, it has proven to be advantageous that thepartitioning means is adapted to generate partitioning identificationdata which identify the partitioning of the additional data into aplurality of K partitions of information data, that the recording meansis adapted to record partitioning identification data together withassociated information data, and that allocation means is adapted toallocate, during reproduction, reproduced partitioned information datain accordance with concurrently reproduced partitioning identificationdata so as to obtain reproduced additional data. This has the advantagethat a reconstruction of the reproduced information data in order torestore the additional data partitioned prior to recording by therecording means is possible in particularly simple manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail, by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is block diagram which diagrammatically shows a video recorderhaving detection means for the detection of additional informationcontained in receiving data, and having partitioning means forpartitioning detected additional data containing additional informationinto K=(N*Z)−1 information data partitions which can each be recorded inan information data recording area;

FIG. 2 shows, diagrammatically, a magnetic tape of a magnetic-tapecassette which can be loaded into the video recorder, on which tape,recording data have been recorded in helical recording tracks and whichcan be scanned by magnetic heads of the video recorder along helicalreproducing tracks; and

FIGS. 3A-3F show an Information Data Table with the aid of which thereproduction of information data forming partitioned additional datarecorded in information data recording areas at a plurality ofreproducing speeds with a maximum 6-fold reproducing speed (N=6) can beexplained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a recording and reproducing device formed by a videorecorder 1. The video recorder 1 comprises receiving means 2, processingmeans 3, recording means 4, which include the processing means 3, andreproducing means 5. Digital reception data E containing picture, soundand additional information are applied to an input terminal 6 of thevideo recorder 1. The video recorder 1 supplies reproduction data VW,reproduced and processed by the reproducing means 5 and containingpicture, sound and additional information at an output terminal 7.Information data forming additional data Z reproduced from informationdata recording areas is supplied to an additional information outputterminal 8, which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Digital reception data E applied to the input terminal 6 is supplied tothe receiving means 2. Digital reception data E then form a so-calledDVB information packet stream in accordance with the International DVBstandard (Digital Video Broadcast, ETSI, TM1217 Rev. of Feb. 6, 1998).Such a DVB information packet stream comprises an MPEG transport streamin accordance with the MPEG standard (ISO/IEC 11171-1 and ISO/IEC13.818-1). An MPEG transport stream comprises MPEG transport streampackets having a length of 188 bytes. Each MPEG transport stream packethas a header area and an information area. An information area containsencoded digital data representing sound, picture or additionalinformation. Each header area of an MPEG transport stream packet interalia accommodates a packet stream identification (PID). MPEG transportstream packets containing picture information of a television program,have a common packet stream identification and form a first sub-streamof an MPEG transport stream. MPEG transport stream packets containingsound information of this television program, have another packet streamidentification and form a second sub-stream in the MPEG transportstream. The sub-streams associated with a television program form aprogram stream. In this way, a plurality of sub-streams can beaccommodated in an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport streampackets of each sub-stream having an individual program streamidentification.

An MPEG transport stream further includes further table information infurther MPEG transport stream packets. A Program Association Table(PAT), a Program Map Table (PMT) and a Selection Information Table (SIT)will now be described in more detail. A Program Association Tablecontains information about how many program streams are transmitted inthe MPEG transport stream. For each program stream listed in a ProgramAssociation Table, a Program Map Table is transmitted which specifiesthe sub-streams associated with the program stream and identified bytheir program stream identifications in the Program Map Table.

A Selection Information Table contains additional information relatingto television programs transmitted in program streams of an MPEGtransport stream. Additional information can, for example, beinformation that a television program can be displayed in the 16:9display format, or that sound information of a television programsupports “Surround Sound”. However, additional information can also be atitle of a television program or a summary of the content of atelevision program. MPEG transport stream packets including a SelectionInformation Table always have the same packet stream identificationPID=“1Fhex”.

The receiving means 2 comprises a digital tuner 9 and a demultiplexer10. Receiving means control keys 11, also known as channel UP/DOWN keys,apply a reception control signal ES to the receiving means 2. Byactuation of the receiving means control keys 11, a user of the videorecorder 1 can select an MPEG transport stream comprising, for example,six program streams of six television programs and having a data rate of14 MB/s from a DVB information packet stream formed by digital receptiondata and having a data rate of 38 MB/s.

An MPEG transport stream supplied by the receiving means 2 is applied tothe recording means 4 in order to record recording data AD containingthe MPEG transport stream. The recording means 4 records recording dataAD in helical recording tracks S, in accordance with a DVHS standard(Victor Company of Japan, No. 07015 of Jul. 25, 1997), on a magnetictape 12 of a magnetic-tape cassette. For this purpose, the recordingmeans 4 comprises a tape-deck stage 13 which forms a recording stage andwhich comprises two magnetic heads mounted on a rotatably-supported headdisc 14. A magnetic head A has an azimuth angle of +30° and a magnetichead B has an azimuth angle of −30°. Thus, the recording means 4includes magnetic heads A and B having a number of Z=2 different azimuthangles. The magnetic heads A and B of the tape-deck stage 13 recordrecording data AD in helical recording tracks S on the magnetic tape 12shown in FIG. 2.

A track pattern formed by helical recording tracks S, shown in FIG. 2,in which recording data AD have been recorded on the magnetic tape 12,will be described hereinafter. FIG. 2 shows a part of the magnetic tape12 which is moved with a recording speed in a transport direction Tduring a recording of recording data AD. The magnetic tape 12 is thenmoved past the magnetic heads and B carried by the rotatably-supportedhead disc 14, the magnetic head A following helical recording tracks S₁,S₃, S₅, . . . , S₁₇ and the magnetic head B following helical recordingtracks S₂, S₄, S₆, . . . , S_(16.) During a recording of recording dataAD the magnetic heads A and B record recording data AD, in helicalrecording tracks S thus followed. During a subsequent reproductionrecording data AD recorded by the magnetic head A in one of the S₁, S₃,S₅, . . . , S₁₇ can only be reproduced as reproduction data W by themagnetic head A due to the different azimuth angles of the magneticheads A and B. The provision of different azimuth angles for themagnetic heads A and B reduces crosstalk from recording data AD recordedin adjacent helical recording tracks S during a reproduction of therecording data AD.

The recording means 4 records recording data AD in accordance with theDVHS standard. A given type of recording data AD is then recorded ingiven recording areas of each helical recording track S, a so-calledsub-code recording area SC and a main code recording area beingdescribed in more detail hereinafter.

In each helical recording track S, the recording means 4 records a partof the recording data AD as information data ID in an information datarecording area formed by the sub-code recording area SC, which is alwaysthe same in respect of its position in a helical recording track S. Ineach of the sub-code recording areas SC₁, SC₂, . . . , SC₁₇ shown inFIG. 2, information data ID is recorded in, each time, four so-calledpack data groups. Each packet data group has a header area and a packetdata area. The pack data area contains information data ID in three setsof pack data, each having six bytes. The type of information data IDcontained in the pack data of a pack data group is identified by aso-called pack data identification contained in the header area of apack data group. The DVHS standard specifies several types of pack dataand associated pack data identifications. For example, one type of packdata contains a cassette number of a magnetic-tape cassette, on whichthe video recorder 1 has recorded recording data AD, as information dataID. Another type of pack data contains a source code, which identifies atelevision station whose television program has been recorded by thevideo recorder 1, as information data ID. A further type of pack data,so-called text pack data, contains text data, as, for example, a titleof a television program recorded by the video recorder 1 and formed byso-called ASCII codes, as information data ID. Likewise, a type of timecode pack data is specified which can store, for example, the totalduration of a television program, the residual duration of a televisionprogram and further time data ZT, as information data ID. With respectto such time code pack data, the DVHS standard further specifies thatthis data is recorded in at least every second helical recording track Sso as to enable the current time data ZT to be displayed continuouslyduring reproduction of the information data ID.

In the main code recording area of a helical recording track S, whicharea has a length which is nearly equal to the total length of thehelical recording track S, 336 so-called sync blocks can be recorded,these blocks each having a header recording area and an informationarea. After processing in the processing means 3, which will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter, an MPEG transport stream packetreceived by the receiving means 2, together with timing information ZInecessary for the correctly timed reproduction, is basically recordedin, each time, two sync blocks. MPEG transport stream packets containedin receiving data are basically recorded in sync blocks of the main coderecording area on the magnetic tape 12 in the sequence in which they arereceived from the receiving means 2. Thus, it is also possible to recordadditional information, formed by a Selection Information Table andcontained in one or more MPEG transport stream packets of the receivingdata E, as information data ID in recording areas of the main coderecording area which differ as regards their positions in a helicalrecording track S. The position of a recording area in the main coderecording area of a helical recording track S, in which information dataID containing additional information have been recorded, therefore,essentially depends on when a Selection Information Table appears in thereceiving data. Consequently, the recording means 4 can recordinformation data ID in a plurality of at least two recording areas ofthe main code recording area which differ as regards their positions ina helical recording track S. A reproduction of such information data IDrecorded in a main code recording area is substantially impossible in aso-called trick-play reproducing mode, in which the magnetic tape 12 ismoved at a multiple of the reproducing speed, as will be described inmore detail hereinafter.

The reproducing means 5 reproduces recording data AD, recorded on themagnetic tape 12 of a magnetic-tape cassette, at a normal reproducingspeed and, at most, at an N-fold multiple reproducing speed. Duringreproduction at a normal reproducing speed, the magnetic tape 12 ismoved in the transport direction T at a normal reproducing speed whichcorresponds to the recording speed during the recording of recordingdata AD. The magnetic head A then scans the magnetic tape 12 alonghelical reproducing tracks W1 ₉ . . . , W1 ₂₁ and the magnetic head Bscans the magnetic tape 12 along helical reproducing tracks W1 ₆, W1 ₈ .. . , W1 ₂₂, a helical reproducing track W1 exactly coinciding with ahelical recording track S. When the transport of the magnetic tape 12 iseffected with the normal reproducing speed, all recording data recordedin arbitrary helical recording tracks S, and also all recording data ADrecorded as information data ID can be reproduced as reproducing data W.

During reproduction at a multiple reproducing speed, the magnetic tape12 is moved in the transport direction T with a corresponding multiplereproducing speed which corresponds to a multiple of the recording speedduring the recording of recording data AD. Thus, the magnetic tape 12 ismoved, for example, with 4 times the recording speed during reproductionwith the 4-fold reproducing speed. The magnetic head A then scans themagnetic tape 12 along helical reproducing tracks W4 ₃ and W4 ₅ and themagnetic head B scans the magnetic tape 12 along helical reproducingtracks W4 ₂ and W4 ₄, each of the magnetic heads A and B enabling ahelical reproducing track W4 to be scanned which traverses for helicalrecording tracks S. During a reproduction with the 4-fold reproducingspeed, recording data AD can be reproduced from the recording areas WB4shown in FIG. 2. For example, the magnetic head A, which scans themagnetic tape 12 along the helical reproducing track W4 ₃, can reproducerecording data AD recorded by the magnetic head A in the helicalrecording track S₉, in the reproducing area WB4 ³⁻¹, and recorded by themagnetic head A in the helical recording track S₁₁, in the reproducingarea WB4 ³⁻². Due to the different azimuth angles of the magnetic headsA and B, the magnetic head A cannot reproduce any recording data AD fromthe helical recording tracks S₈ and S₁₀, traversed by the helicalreproducing track W4 ₃ at the four-fold reproducing speed, in whichhelical recording tracks recording data AD have been recorded by themagnetic head B.

In order to enable a reproduction of picture, sound and additionalinformation at a multiple reproducing speed picture, so-calledtrick-play data containing picture sound and additional information arerecorded in trick-play recording areas formed by a plurality of syncblocks in the main code recording area. Trick-play recording areas forreproduction at, for example, the four-fold reproducing speed are chosento be similar to the reproducing areas WB4 from which recording data ADcan be reproduced at the four-fold reproducing speed. Thus, MPEGtransport stream packets with picture, sound and additional informationare recorded in sync blocks of the main code recording area not only forreproduction at the normal reproducing speed, but a part or all of theseMPEG transport stream packets are also recorded in the trick-playrecording areas of the main code recording area for reproduction at a4-fold reproducing speed. As is apparent from the track pattern shown inFIG. 2, all the reproducing areas WB4 can be reproduced only at the4-fold reproducing speed. Therefore, during recording of recording dataAD, further trick-play data should, in addition, be recorded in furthertrick-play recording areas of the main code recording area for eachmultiple reproducing speed envisaged for subsequent reproduction. Such atrack pattern with trick-play recording areas for a plurality ofreproducing speeds is known from International Patent Application No.PCT/IB 98/00130, which is herewith incorporated by reference.

Now the structure of the recording means 4 of the video recorder 1 shownin FIG. 1 will be described in more detail hereinafter. The processingmeans 3, included in the recording means 4, includes a timing stage 15,normal-speed recording processing means 16, multiple-speed recordingprocessing means 17, a multiplexer 18, first error correction means 19,first insertion means 20, channel encoding means 21, a sync generator22, and a control stage 24 provided in a control unit 23. An MPEGtransport stream supplied by the receiving means 2 is applied to thenormal-speed recording processing means 16 and the multiple-speedrecording processing means 17. Furthermore, the timing stage 15 appliestiming information ZI to the normal-speed recording processing means 16and to the multiple-speed recording processing means 17. In thenormal-speed recording processing means 16 and in the multiple-speedrecording processing means 17, timing information ZI is attached to eachMPEG transport stream packet to be recorded, this timing informationmarking the time of arrival of the MPEG transport stream packet and, asalready explained hereinbefore, is recorded on the magnetic tape 12together with the MPEG transport stream packet.

In the video recorder 1, in a manner not shown, a user of the videorecorder 1 can predefine, prior to the recording of a televisionprogram, at which multiple recording speeds the recorded televisionprogram should subsequently be reproducible. A user of the videorecorder 1 can thus specify, prior to the recording of a televisionprogram, that this television program is to be recorded in such a mannerthat reproduction of the television program is possible at a 2-foldreproducing speed, a 3-fold reproducing speed, a 6-fold reproducingspeed and a 12-fold reproducing speed. To this end, the user can, forexample, preset a value N=12, which specifies the maximum reproducingspeed. The multiple-speed recording processing means 17 then selectsMPEG transport stream packets containing picture, sound and additionalinformation from the MPEG transport stream packets supplied by thereceiving means 2 so as to allow these MPEG transport stream packets tobe recorded as trick-play data in trick-play recording areas of the maincode recording area.

The normal-speed recording processing means 16 and the multiple-speedrecording processing means 17 are further adapted to attachidentification information to each supplied MPEG transport streampacket, in order to specify whether recording in a sync block with thenormal or multiple reproducing speed is envisaged. Normal-speedrecording processing means and multiple-speed recording processing meansare also known from International Patent Application No. PCT/IB98/00130, which is herewith incorporated by reference.

MPEG transport stream packets processed by the normal-speed recordingprocessing means 16 and the multiple-speed recording processing means17, together with the associated timing information ZI, are supplied tothe multiplexer 18. The multiplexer 18 inserts the processed MPEGtransport stream packets applied to it, including the associated timinginformation ZI, into a first processing data stream VD1 in atime-shifted manner.

A first processing data stream VD1 supplied by the multiplexer 18 isapplied to the first error correction means 19. As will be explainedhereinafter, information data ID to be recorded in subcode recordingareas SC, can also be applied to the first error correction means 19.The first error correction means 19 generates and inserts redundancyinformation about the applied data, and supplies a second processingdata stream VD2 containing the redundancy information to the firstinsertion means 20.

Furthermore, synchronizing information SY from the sync generator 22 isapplied to the first insertion means 20. Synchronizing information SY isformed by a given sequence of bits specified in the DVHS standard.Synchronizing information SY marks the beginning of a sync block. Thefirst insertion means 20 supplies a third processing data stream VD3 tothe channel encoding means 21.

The channel encoding means 21 encodes an applied third processing datastream VD3 in accordance with an encoding method, and supplies recordingdata AD to the tape-deck stage 13.

The control stage 24 of the control unit 23 has control and data linesto the timing stage 15, the normal-speed recording processing means 16,the multiple-speed recording processing means 17, the channel encodingmeans 21, the sync generator 22 and the tape-deck stage 13, and controlsthe recording of recording data AD on the magnetic tape 12. Such acontrol stage is also known from International Patent Application No.PCT/IB 98/00130, which is herewith incorporated by reference.

Hereinafter, the structure of the reproducing means 5 of the videorecorder 1 shown in FIG. 1 is described. The reproducing means 5includes channel decoding means 25, tape control means 26, second errorcorrection means 27, normal-speed reproduction processing means 28,multiple-speed reproduction processing means 29, and a switch 30. Thereproducing means 5 further comprises the control stage 24 of thecontrol unit 23, also included in the recording means 4, and thetape-deck stage 13, which now forms a reproducing stage. Duringreproduction process in which the magnetic tape 12 is moved at a normalor a multiple reproducing speed, the tape-deck stage 13 suppliesreproducing data W to the channel decoding means 25. The channeldecoding means 25 decodes the reproducing data W in accordance with adecoding method which is the inverse of the encoding method. The channeldecoding means 25 applies decoded reproducing data to the second errorcorrection means 27 as a fourth processing data stream VD4.

The second error correction means 27 corrects recording or reproducingerrors in the reproducing data W with the aid of the redundancyinformation inserted into the second processing data stream VDS by thefirst error correction means 19 and contained in the fourth processingdata stream VD4. These errors can arise, for example, as a result ofmaterial flaws in the magnetic tape 12 or a soiled magnetic head A or B.The second error correction means 27 supplies a fifth processing datastream VD5 to the tape control means 26.

The tape control means 26 evaluates the fifth processing data streamVD5, generates tape control information BST, and supplies this tapecontrol information BST to the reproducing stage formed by the tape-deckstage 13. During a reproduction of reproducing data W, during which themagnetic tape 12 is moved with a normal reproducing speed, the tape-deckstage 13 changes the speed of transport of the magnetic tape 12 brieflyto a small extent in response to tape control information BST in orderto achieve that a helical reproducing track W1 of the magnetic head Akeeps in track with a helical recording track S recorded by the magnetichead A, as has been explained with reference to FIG. 2. During areproduction of reproducing data W, during which the magnetic tape 12 ismoved with a multiple reproducing speed, the tape-deck stage 13 changesthe speed of transport of the magnetic tape 12 briefly to a small extentin response,to tape control information BST in order to achieve that therespective magnetic head A or B scans the reproducing areas WB, as hasbeen explained with reference to FIG. 2.

In a manner not shown, the user of the video recorder can start areproduction of recording data AD recorded on the magnetic tape 12,during which reproduction, the magnetic tape 12 is moved with a normalreproducing speed. However, the user can also start a so-calledtrick-play reproduction for which the magnetic tape 12 is moved with amultiple reproducing speed which has been preset by the user prior tothe recording of the recording data AD, as explained hereinbefore. Thecontrol stage 24 then controls the tape-deck stage 13 accordingly, interalia, so as to move the magnetic tape 12 with the appropriatereproducing speed. The control unit 24 further supplies normal-speedcontrol information NS to the switch 30 when the user has activatedreproduction at the normal reproducing speed. The second errorcorrection means 27 supplies the fifth processing data stream VD5 to thenormal-speed reproduction processing means 28 and the multi-speedreproduction processing means 29.

The normal-speed reproduction processing means 28 evaluates theidentification information of the sync blocks recorded on the magnetictape 12 which have been identified by the normal-speed recordingprocessing means 16. The normal-speed reproduction processing means 28further supplies MPEG transport stream packets contained in saididentified sync blocks to the switch 30 in accordance with the timinginformation ZI attached to them by the normal-speed recording processingmeans 16.

The multi-speed reproduction processing means 29 evaluates theidentification information of the sync blocks recorded on the magnetictape 12 which have been identified by the multi-speed recordingprocessing means 17. The multi-speed reproduction processing means 29further supplies MPEG transport stream packets contained in theseidentified sync blocks to the switch 30 in accordance with the timinginformation ZI added to them by the multi-speed recording processingmeans 17.

When the user of the video recorder 1 has started a reproduction withthe normal reproducing speed, the control stage 24 supplies normal-speedcontrol information NS to the switch 30, upon which the MPEG transportstream packets supplied by the normal-speed reproduction processingmeans 28 are applied to the output terminal 7 as processed reproducingdata VW. Conversely, when the user of the video recorder 1 has started areproduction with a multiple reproducing speed, the control stage 24does not supply normal-speed control information NS to the switch 30,upon which the MPEG transport stream packets supplied by the multi-speedreproduction processing means 29 are applied to the output terminal 7 asprocessed reproducing data VW. Such reproducing means 5 is known from,for example, International Patent Application No. PCT/IB 98/00130, whichis which is incorporated herewith by reference.

As already explained hereinbefore, picture, sound and additionalinformation of a television program should also be recorded astrick-play data in trick-play recording areas to enable subsequenttrick-play reproduction of this recorded television program at aplurality of different multiple reproducing speeds. Trick-play datarecorded in trick-play recording areas can only be reproduced completelyat one of the multiple reproducing speeds. In order to enable areproduction of additional information, such as, for example, the titleof a television program, even at very high multiple reproducing speeds,the video recorder 1 now includes detection means 31 for the detectionof additional information contained in reception data E and to supplyreceived detected additional information. For this purpose, an MPEGtransport stream supplied by the receiving means 2 is applied to thedetection means 31. The detection means 31 detects MPEG transport streampackets in the MPEG transport stream, which packets are identified by apacket stream identification PID=“1Fhex” and contain a SelectionInformation Table. The detection means 31 supplies MPEG transport streampackets containing a Selection Information Table to the selection means32.

The selection means 32 selects received detected additional informationcontained in a Selection Information Table, and applies selectedadditional information to additional information processing means 33.The video recorder 1 has a selection key 34 for supplying selectioninformation SZI to the selection means 32. By actuation of the selectionkey 34, the user can select given items of additional information fromthe additional information in the Selection Information Table, in amanner not shown in FIG. 1, for recording on the magnetic tape 12. Theuser of the video recorder 1 can choose, for example, whether thesummary of the content of a television program to be recorded should berecorded on the magnetic tape 12 as additional information.

A Selection Information Table identifies each type of additionalinformation by means of a “descriptor”. By evaluation of thecorresponding descriptors of a Selection Information Table, theselection means supplies additional information contained in theSelection Information Table as time data ZT or content data ZU. Timedata ZT, for example, provides information about the total duration of areceived television program or about the residual duration of a receivedtelevision program. Content data ZU contains, for example, the title ofa television program or a source code which identifies a televisionstation from which a television program is received.

The video recorder 1 further comprises partitioning means 35 forpartitioning additional data into a number of K=(N*Z)−1 partitions ofinformation data ID, these partitions each being recorded in aninformation data recording area formed by a sub-code recording area SC.As explained hereinbefore, the value N defines the maximum reproducingspeed for trick-play reproduction, and the value Z defines the number ofdifferent azimuth angles of magnetic heads by means of which recordingdata are recorded in helical recording tracks S. In the video recorder1, the magnetic head A has a different azimuth angle than the magnetichead B, so that the value Z=2. The partitioning of additional dataformed by content data ZU, which cannot be recorded in a sub-coderecording area SC because they require much storage space, into Kpartitions of information data ID which can each be recorded into asub-code recording area SC, will be described hereinafter with referenceto FIGS. 3A-3F, which shows an Information Data Table 36.

In order to partition additional data, the partitioning means 35includes an additional data generator 37 and a partitioning controlstage provided in the control unit 23. For this purpose, thepartitioning control stage 38 is connected to the control stage 24 andthe additional data generator 37. The partitioning means 35 partitionscontent data ZU into partitions of information data ID which can each berecorded into a sub-code recording area SC. The partitioning controlstage 38 of the partitioning means 35 generates partitioningidentification data AT which identify the partitioning of the contentdata ZU into a plurality of K partitions of information data ID, andsupplies generated partitioning identification data AT to the additionaldata generator 37. Information data ID partitioned by the partitioningmeans 35, together with associated partitioning identification data AT,which can, each time, be recorded together in a sub-code recording areaSC, are applied from the partitioning means 35 to second insertion means39 as information data ID.

The additional information processing means 33 includes a timeinformation processing stage 40 to which time data ZT is applied by theselection means 32. The time information processing stage 40 updatestime data ZT stored in the time information processing stage 40. Thus,it is possible, for example, to adjust a recording time of a televisionprogram, this time having already elapsed and having been determined bymeans of a tape transport counter, not shown in FIG. 1, with the aid oftime data ZT, upon which the tape transport counter determines thesubsequent recording time on the basis of the adjusted value of therecording time. Periodically updated time data ZT stored in the timeinformation processing stage 40 is supplied to the second insertionmeans 39 as information data ID which is recorded in a sub-coderecording area of a helical recording track S.

The partitioning control stage 38 is connected to the additional datagenerator 37 and to the time information processing stage 40 andsupplies insertion control information ET, the additional data generator37 and the time information processing stage 40 applying informationdata ID to the second insertion means 39 upon the occurrence ofinsertion control information ET. The partitioning control stage 38periodically supplies insertion control information ET to the timeinformation processing stage 40 in order to guarantee a recording ofinformation data ID containing time data ZT in time code pack data of atleast every second helical recording track S, as prescribed by the DVHSstandard and explained hereinbefore. When the partitioning control stage38 does not supply insertion control information ET to the timeinformation processing stage 40, the partitioning control stage 38supplies insertion control information ET to the additional datagenerator 37 in order to initiate a recording of information data IDcontaining content data ZU in previously mentioned text pack data.

The second insertion stage 39 inserts information data ID into the packdata area of a pack data group, and identifies the type of pack data bymeans of a pack data identification included in the header area of apack data group. The insertion means 39 further supplies pack datagroups as information data ID to the first error correction means 19,which inserts the information data ID into the second processing datastream VD2, as described hereinbefore. The recording means 4 recordsinformation data ID together with associated partitioning identificationdata AT in sub-code recording areas SC on the magnetic tape 12.

Information data ID and associated partitioning identification data ATrecorded on the magnetic tape 12 in sub-code recording areas SC can bereproduced as reproduction data W in a reproduction mode at the normalreproducing speed and in a trick-play reproduction mode, which will bedescribed hereinafter with reference to the Information Data Table 36shown in FIGS. 3A-3F. A fifth processing data stream VD5 containingreproduced information data ID and associated partitioningidentification data AT can be applied to allocation means 41 by thesecond error correction means 27.

The allocation means 41 allocates, during reproduction, reproducedinformation data ID, partitioned by the partitioning means 35 duringrecording, in accordance with partitioning identification data ATreproduced together with the reproduced information data ID so as toobtain reproduced additional data. Thus, for example, a summary of thecontent of a television program in the form content data ZU, which,prior to recording, has been partitioned by the partitioning means 35into K=11 partitions of information data ID which are each recorded in asub-code recording area SC and has been recorded together withassociated partitioning identification data AT, is reconstructed by theallocation means 41 during reproduction by the allocation of reproducedinformation data ID in accordance with likewise reproduced associatedpartitioning identification data AT. The allocation means 41 suppliesreproduced additional data Z to the additional information outputterminal 8. The allocation means 41 further supplies information datacontaining time data ZT from time code pack data identified in theirheader area to the control stage 24 for further processing.

The provision of the detection means 31 and of the additionalinformation processing means 33 has the advantage that additionalinformation contained in receiving data E is recorded as informationdata ID in the information data recording areas and can subsequently bereproduced both at the normal reproducing speed and at a multiplereproducing speed without the need to record the information data ID, inaddition, in trick-play recording areas intended for this purpose foreach of the given multiple reproducing speeds. Moreover, informationdata recorded in sub-code recording areas SC can also be edited afterthe recording, which is also advantageous.

The provision of the selection means 32 has the advantage that the userof the video recorder 1 can select additional information from theadditional information contained in reproduction data E, which he/shewishes to record as additional information about a television program.

The partitioning of additional data into partitions of information dataID which can each be recorded in a sub-code recording area SC in orderto record said information data ID and the allocation of reproducedinformation data ID in order to obtain reproduced additional data Z,will be explained hereinafter with reference to the Information DataTable 36 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3F. FIG. 3A shows a first, FIG. 3B shows asecond, FIG. 3C shows a third, FIG. 3D shows a fourth, FIG. 3E shows afifth, and FIG. 3F shows a sixth part of the Information Data Table 36.The first row of the entire Information Data Table 36 consecutivelygives the helical recording tracks S1 to S144. The second row of theInformation Data Table 36 each time gives the magnetic head H—either themagnetic head A or the magnetic head B—by which the recording data ADcontaining information data ID have been recorded in the respectivehelical recording track S. The third row of the Information Data Table36 gives partitioning identification data AT.

When, for example, prior to the recording of the television program“Casablanca”, the user of the video recorder 1 has defined the value ofN as N=6 in the manner explained hereinbefore and has thereby defined amaximum 6-fold reproducing speed for a trick-play reproductionsubsequent to the recording, the partitioning means 35 determines thevalue K=(N*Z)−1=(6*2)−1=11 because the magnetic heads have Z=2 differentazimuth angles. When the user has further made the choice by the entryof selection information SZI that a summary of the content of thetelevision program “Casablanca”, contained in the reception data E asadditional information, should be recorded as content data ZU, thepartitioning means 35 partitions the content data ZU in information dataID. The content data ZU, which cannot be recorded in a pack data groupin the sub-code recording area SC of a helical recording track S, arepartitioned into a multitude of subsidiary content data, thesesubsidiary content data being formed into K=11 partitions of informationdata ID which can each be recorded in a sub-code recording area SC. Thefirst one of the K partitions of information data ID of the firstsubsidiary content data is given the number “1” as partitioningidentification data AT, the second one of the K partitions ofinformation data ID of the first subsidiary content data is given thenumber “2” as partitioning identification data AT, and so on, until,finally, the eleventh one of the K=11 partitions of information data IDof the first subsidiary content data is given the number “11” aspartitioning identification data AT. The first one subsequent K=11partitions of information data ID of the second subsidiary content datais then given the number “12” as partitioning identification data AT.

The first one of the K partitions of information data ID, together withthe associated partitioning identification data AT=1, are recorded inthe sub-code recording area SC1 of the helical recording track S1. Thesubsequent ten partitions of the K=11 partitions of information data ID,together with the associated partitioning identification data AT=2, 3, 4to 11, are recorded in the sub-code recording areas SC₂, SC₃, SC₄ toSC₁₁ of the helical recording tracks S₂, S₃, S₄ to S₁₁. The third rowgives the associated partitioning identification data AT=1 to AT=11 forrecorded information data ID of a sub-code recording area SC.

The recording means 4 is adapted to at least K times record the Kpartitions of information data ID, which can each be recorded in aninformation data recording area of a helical recording track S, in totalin at least K*K information data recording areas of at least K*K helicalrecording tracks S. The K=11 partitions of information data ID of thefirst subsidiary content data are then recorded for the first time inthe helical recording tracks S₁ to S₁₁, for the second time in thehelical recording tracks S₁₂ to S₂₂ and for the K=11th time in thehelical recording tracks S₁₁₁ to S₁₂₁, i.e., in total, in K*K=121sub-code recording areas SC of K*K helical recording tracks S. Startingfrom the helical recording track S₁₂₂, the information data ID of thesecond subsidiary content data are recorded.

The reproduction of information data ID recorded in subcode recordingareas SC will now be explained hereinafter with reference to theInformation Data Table 36 shown in FIGS. 3A-3F. The fourth row of theInformation Data Table 36 gives, for each helical recording track S, themagnetic head A or B which scans the respective helical recording trackS along a helical reproducing track W1 in a reproduction mode in whichthe magnetic tape 12 is moved at the normal reproducing speed. Acomparison between the magnetic head A or B by which the recording dataAD have been recorded in the helical recording track S, this head beinggiven in the second row of the Information Data Table 36, and themagnetic head A or B which scans the respective helical recording trackS along a helical reproducing track W1, this head being given in thefourth row of the Information Data Table 36, makes it possible todetermine from which information data recording areas of which helicalrecording track S information data ID can be reproduced. The cells ofthe Information Data Table 36, for which during recording, the helicalrecording track S has been scanned by the same magnetic head A or B asduring reproduction, have been shaded and indicate that the informationdata ID in the helical recording track S marked by the partitioningidentification data AT can be reproduced. It is apparent from this thatall information data ID forming the first subsidiary content data,together with the associated partitioning identification data AT, arereproduced already after K=11 partitions of information data ID havebeen reproduced from the helical recording tracks S₁, to S₁₁. With theaid of the partitioning identification data AT, the first subsidiarycontent data, which contain the first part of the summary of the contentof the television film “Casablanca”, are reconstructed already of thereproduction of the helical recording tracks S₁ to S₁₁ and are suppliedto the additional information output terminal 8 as additional data Z.

This yields the advantage that during a reproduction at a speed lowerthan the N-fold reproducing speed, additional data or parts of theadditional data are available at the additional information outputterminal 8 after only a part of the K partitions of information data ID,which have been recorded K times, has been reproduced by the videorecorder 1.

The fifth row of the Information Data Table 36 gives, for each helicalrecording track S, the magnetic head A or B which scans the respectivehelical recording track S along a helical reproducing track in atrick-play reproduction mode in which the magnetic tape 12 is moved witha 2-fold reproducing speed. From a comparison between the magnetic headA or B specified in the second and the fifth row of the Information DataTable 36, it follows which information data ID identified bypartitioning identification data AT can be reproduced from the sub-coderecording areas SC of the helical recording tracks S. The informationdata ID with the partitioning identification data AT=1 can then bereproduced from the helical recording track S₁, the information data IDwith the partitioning identification data AT=5 from the helicalrecording track S₅, and, subsequently, the information data ID with thepartitioning identification data AT=9, 2, 6, 10, 3, 7, 11, 4 and,finally, the information data ID with the partitioning identificationdata AT=8 from the helical recording track S₄₁. In an advantageousmanner, the first part of the summary of the content of the televisionprogram “Casablanca” can already be supplied to the additionalinformation output terminal 8 by the allocation means 41 after thereproduction of the first 41 helical recording tracks S.

For each helical recording track S, the sixth row of the InformationData Table 36 gives the magnetic head A or B which scans the informationdata recording area of the helical recording track S along a helicalreproducing track in a trick-play reproduction mode in which themagnetic tape 12 is moved with a 3-fold reproducing speed and theseventh row of the Information Data Table 36 gives the magnetic head Aor B which scans the information data recording area in a trick-playreproduction mode in which the magnetic tape 12 is moved with a maximum6-fold reproducing speed. From a comparison between the magnetic head Aor B specified in the second and the sixth row and in the second and theseventh row of the Information Data Table 36, it follows whichinformation data ID identified by partitioning identification data ATcan be reproduced from the sub-code recording areas SC of the helicalrecording tracks S.

At the 3-fold reproducing speed, the information data ID with thepartitioning identification data AT=1 can then be reproduced from thehelical recording track S₁, the information data ID with thepartitioning identification data AT=4 from the helical recording trackS₄, and, subsequently, the information data ID with the partitioningidentification data AT=7,10, 2, 5, 8, 11, 3, 6 and, finally, theinformation data ID with the partitioning identification data AT=9 fromthe helical recording track S₃₁. At the 6-fold reproducing speed, theinformation data ID with the partitioning identification data AT=1 canthen be reproduced from the helical recording track S₁, the informationdata ID with the partitioning identification data AT=2 from the helicalrecording track S₁₃, and, subsequently, the information data ID with thepartitioning identification data AT=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and,finally, the information data ID with the partitioning identificationdata AT=11 from the helical recording track S₁₂₁.

Therefore, for reproducing recorded additional information, informationdata ID should suitably be reproduced only in a trick-play reproductionmode at the maximum N-fold reproducing speed from all K*K informationdata recording areas of K*K helical recording tracks S.

The partitioning means 35 further defines the value N of the maximumN-fold reproducing speed as the least common multiple of all the valuesX of a plurality of X-fold reproducing speeds envisaged for trick-playreproduction. A user of the video recorder 1 can then specify, prior toa television program, in a manner not shown in FIG. 1, that the recordedtelevision program should be reproducible at a 2-fold (X=2), and a3-fold (X=3) reproducing speed during subsequent trick-playreproduction. The partitioning means 35 then defines the value N asN=2*3=6 because the value “6” is the least common multiple of the values“2” and “3”. This yields the advantage that the partitioning means 35defines optimum values N and K, which enable a particularly rapidreproduction of recorded information ID at least at all the predefinedX-fold reproducing speeds.

The partitioning means 35 further records K partitions of informationdata ID in, each time, one information data recording area of Ksuccessive helical recording tracks S. This yields the advantage thatinformation data ID can be reproduced particularly rapidly in order toobtain additional data in a reproducing mode.

For example, when a user of a video recorder having four magnetic headswith four different azimuth angles (Z=4) specifies X=6 and X=8 asreproducing speeds for trick-play reproduction modes prior to arecording of a television program, this results in N=6*8=24 as the leastcommon multiple of the values “6” and “8” and K=(N*Z)−1=(24*4)−1=95.Information data partitioned and recorded in accordance with theinvention can now be reproduced at all X-fold reproducing speeds forwhich N can be divided by X without a remainder being left. For N=24,these are all the 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24-fold reproducing speeds.

It is to be noted that measures in accordance with the invention canalso be used in other apparatuses adapted to record and reproducerecording data in helical recording tracks S on a magnetic tape. Such anapparatus can then record recording data, for example, in accordancewith the ATSC standard (A/53 (1995), ATSC Digital Television Standard)on a magnetic tape and reproduce recording data which have been recordedon a magnetic tape in accordance with the ATSC standard.

It is to be noted that partitioning means in accordance with theinvention may also be adapted to partition additional data in smallerunits of information data ID than described hereinbefore, in which casefor example three information data partitions identified by three itemsof partitioning identification data can be recorded together in aninformation data recording area of a helical recording track.

It is to be noted that information data ID recorded in the sub-coderecording areas are also reproducible with a very high—for example, a96-fold—reproducing speed, picture, sound and additional informationrecorded in the main code recording area then being reproducible only upto an 48-fold reproducing speed, at most.

It is to be noted that additional information may also include pictureor sound information, in which case, additional information can beformed, for example, by an image which is typical of a televisionprogram or an audio sequence which is typical of a television program.

It is to be noted that that the detection means may detect additionalinformation not only from the Selection Information Table (SIT) of a DVBinformation packet stream, but also from other portions of thereproduction data.

It is to be noted that a control unit of a video recorder may alsosupply selection information to selection means for the selection ofreceived and detected additional information. The control unit may thensupply selection information in dependence on the internal processingstatus of the video recorder.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording device comprising: receiving meansfor receiving digital reception data containing picture, sound andadditional information; processing means for processing received digitalreception data and for supplying digital recording data, a part of therecording data being formed by information data containing theadditional information recording means, having at least two magneticheads mounted on a rotatably-supported head disc, for recording therecording data in helical recording tracks on a magnetic tape; detectionmeans for detecting the additional information contained in the digitalreception data, and for supplying the detected additional information;and additional information processing means for processing receiveddetected additional information and for supplying information data, therecording means recording the information data supplied by theadditional information processing means in an information data recordingarea in the helical recording track, said information data recordingarea occupying a same position in each helical recording track.
 2. Therecording device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that saidrecording device further comprises selection means for selectingdetected additional information and for supplying the selectedadditional information to the additional information processing means.3. The recording device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that theselection means selects detected additional information in dependenceupon selection information applied to said selection means, and suppliesthe selected additional information to the additional informationprocessing means.
 4. The recording device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the recording means records the information datasupplied by the additional information processing means in theinformation data recording area of each helical recording track.
 5. Therecording device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that theadditional information detected by the detection means is contained in aselection information table in the reception data in accordance with theDVB Standard.
 6. The recording device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the at least two magnetic heads have Z differentazimuth angles, and in that the recording device further comprisesreproducing means for reproducing information data recorded ininformation data recording areas at a maximum N-fold reproducing speed,said reproducing means comprising said at least two magnetic heads, eachof the at least two magnetic heads scanning a helical reproducing trackwhich traverses N helical recording tracks.
 7. A recording device asclaimed in claim 6, characterized in that said recording device furthercomprises: partitioning means for partitioning the additional datacontaining the additional information into K=(N*Z)−1 partitions ofinformation data, each of said partitions of information data beingrecordable in an information data recording area, the recording means atleast K times recording the K partitions of information data in, intotal, at least K * K information data recording areas of at least K * Khelical recording tracks.
 8. The recording device as claimed in claim 7,characterized in that the partitioning means defines the value N of themaximum N-fold reproducing speed as the least common multiple of all thevalues X of X-fold reproducing speeds envisaged for reproduction.
 9. Therecording device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that thepartitioning means generates partitioning identification dataidentifying the partitioning of the additional data into a plurality ofK partitions of information data, the recording means recordingpartitioning identification data together with associated informationdata, and the reproducing means further comprises allocation means forallocating, during reproduction, reproduced partitioned information datain accordance with concurrently reproduced partitioning identificationdata so as to obtain reproduced additional data.